Controller



W. W. SLOANE Aug. 4, 1925.

CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 26 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ML/LW. )4/ 62,

I ZMM ATTORNEY.

Aug. 4, 1925.

1,548,764 W. W. SLOANE CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 26, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.n'llimngih "Ir 1 l Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,764

w. w. SLOANE CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 26, 1921 4 Sheets$heet s IN VEN TORMLL/AM. M 5L OANE."

Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,764

w w. SLOANE CONTROLLER Filed se z. 26, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORIIWILLIAM. W SLoA/vE A "r 'r ORNE Y;

Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. SLOANE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A-SSIGNO'R TOGOODMAN'MANUFACTUR= ING'COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION'OFILLINOIS.

CONTROLLER.

Application filed September 26, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be .it known-that I, WILLIAM W. SLoANE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented an Improvement in Controllers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in .controllers for electricrailway systems, and has for itsobjectto produce means for quicklybreaking the engagement .of the controllercontacts so asto minimizearcing of the electric current.

Broadly speaking, the invention consists in interposing an operatingmechanismbetween the controller handle and the controller drum by whichthe drum may be .advanced throughzsuccessive positions in the usualmanner, but when turning ed the current, the .mechanism automaticallyretains the controller drumin one contacting position until the handlehas been moved substantially to the next succeedingposition. During thismovement of the "handle, it actuates a tension device which stores upenergy, and when the handle'reachesa predetermined point, alatch device:releases the tension-device whichquickly move-s the controller drum intothe lIleXt contacting position, whereby arcing between successivedrumcontacts is. minimized.

Theinventionmay best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in whichFigure 1 is a. top-plan view of a controller of astandard construction to which my inventionhas been applied.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view-showing the- 'upperend of the controllerwith the casing removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the quick breakmechanism andeasing, with the controller handle removed.

Fig. 4: is a detail View in perspective of one part of the quick breakmechanism.

"Figs. 5 and -6 are views in perspective of other parts of the quickbreak mechanism.

Fig.' 7 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the'mechanism'in the off position.

Fig.8 is a diagrammatic view showing themechanismin the on position.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammaticview similarto Fig.8 but showing the controllerhandle rotated into position to release the quick Serial No. 503,318

break mechanism so as to move the controller drum into its nextsucceeding position.

In the embodiment of my invent-ion illustrated in the drawings, mydevice is shown as applied to a controller 1 of a standard patternprovided with a reversing drum 2 and a contact drum 3. A series ofcontact fingers 4, 4, are adapted to engage successive contacts 5, 5,carried by the controller drum 3 in the usual manner. An interlockingdevice of the usual construction is also pro vided which preventsoperation of the reversing drum, excepting when the controller drum 3 isin off position as shown in Fig. 1. In the drawings, this interlockingdevice comprises a rocking arm .6 having engagement with a star wheel 7on the reversing drum 2 and controlled by a second rocking arm 8 havingengagement with a star wheel 9 carried by the controller drum 3. It isto be understood, however,.thatthe parts described are not essentialparts of my invention, but are shown for the purpose of illustration.

As heretofore constructed the handle 10 for actuating the controllerdrum 3 is usually connecteddirectly with the shaft 11 of this drum. Inthe present invention, this handle is connected to a cam member 12 shownin Fig. 4 which is rotatably mounted on a sleeve 13 which, in turn, ismounted on a hub member 14: engaging the upper end of'the controllerdrum shaft 11. A casing 15 is provided for the quick break mechanism andis enclosed by a cover plate 16 having the cam member 12 attached to itslower face and the handle 10 attached'to its upper face as shown in Fig.4. A frame 17 has a hub portion comprising two spaced ring portions 18,18, inserted between vertically spaced hub portions 19, 19, of the cammember 12. The hub portions 18, 18, of the'frame 17 are splined orotherwise connected to the sleeve 13 and through thehub member 14 isarranged so as to move with the controller drum 3. In other words,thearrangement is such that the cam member 12 is connected to and moveswith the handle shown.

to a pin 21 carried by the cam 12 and at the inner end to the sleeve 13by any suit-able means such as a screw 22. Tension is normally providedin the springv 20 so as to maintain a pair of stops 23, 23, on the frame17 engaged with a pair of shoulders 24,-24, carried by the cam member 12as shown in Fig. 3, but allows the handle 10 andcam member 12 carriedtherewith to be rotated. against tension a l1m1ted distance wlth respectto the frame 17, sleeve 13, hub 14 and controller drum shaft 11.

A latch device 25 is mounted adjacent the also pivoted with a pair ofpivot pins 33, 33,

which are insertedin suitable slots 34, 34, in the frame 17, oppositethe slots 29, 29, already described as containing the pivot pins 28, 28,ofthe dog 27; The outer end of the link 31 is arranged to extendlaterally beyond the boundary of the frame 17 and is provided with aspring 36 retained by suitable means such as a collar 37 and pin 37 Saidspring engages a pair of shoulders 38, 38, on the frame 17, and isarranged so as to maintain the outer end of the dog 27 in engagingposition with the several recesses formedin the casing 15, and alsoprovides a cushioning efiect to the frame when the dog 27 isbrought to asudden stop in these recesses, as will hereinafter more fullv appear inthe description of the operation of the device. The inner end 39 of thedoor 27 is provided'with a cam surface 40 adapted to engage a camsurface 41 on the cam member 12. A cushioning device is also provided onthe cam member 12, to become operative as the dog 40' engages ihe cams11"- face 41. This cushioning device comprises an impact piece 42extending above and below the cam surface .41 and movably mount-' oflaterally extending arms 48, 48, are carried by the frame17whichstraddle the cam surface 41 and engage opposite ends of the impact piece42 at the same time that the dog 27 is moved into engagement with thecam surface 41.

' Suitable recesses are formed in the casing 15 so as to be engaged bythe outer end 30 of the dog 27 at predetermined OlnlIS correspondingwith the various operating posia tions of the controller drum. In Figs.3 and 7 the dog 27 is in the recess 50, and the controller drum is inoff position. The controller drum shown has six running positions,represented by recesses 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56. These recessescorrespond respectively with the notches 51 52, 53*, 54*, 55 and 56 onthe star wheel 9 of the interlocking mechanism.

It will be observed that the device illustrated herewith comprises aself-contained unit which may be applied to a controller of standarddesign by removing the ordinary handle from the drum shaft 11,andfitting the sleeve 14 over the end of said shaft. The casing 15 maybe secured to the top of the controller by suitable means, such as bolts15 ,15 This constructionispreferableyof course, in applying my inventionto controllers of the type shown, but it is manifest that modificationsmay be made in controller design so as to-enclose the operat ingmechanism within the controller casing if desired.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: E 1 I.

In Figs. 1 and 3 and inthe diagram in Fig. 7, the controller drum isinoff position with the dog27 engaged in recess 50. As already described,the tension on the spiral spring 20 maintains the stops 23, 23, on theframe 17 in engagement withthe cam member 12 as shown in thesefigures.When it is desired to rotate the drum into? the tated in a clockwisedirection. It will be observed, that there is no relative movement ofthe cam member 12 and: the frame 17 while moving the handle. in thisdirection, so that the entiremechanism isturned until. the dog 27engages in recess 51, in the first running position. Similarly the drummay be advanced through its successive positions; indicated by recesses51, .52, 53, 54, 55, and 56. In other words, the controller drum may beadvanced to any desired point in the usual manner, and, while so, doing,the quick break mechanism remains inoperative. When it is desired toreduce the current, however, as for instance from on position shown inFig. 8 to the next succeeding osi-. tlon, the handle is rotated in acounter-c ock wise direction and the frame 12 is carried with 1t,producing an lncreased tension on the splral spring 20,,wh1ch 1Stransmitted to the frame 17 and tends to move the frame 7 The dog2'7 isthenroc'ked on its pivot until its outerend is. withdrawn 'fromihe notch56. Owing to the considerable tension of the frame17 through the spring20, "said frame will be quickly rotated so "as to disengagejthe dog27from the cam 41. The dog, being'under tension'of the spring 36 isimmediately thro'wnoutwardly so as to be engagedin'the nextsuccessive'recess 55ndjacent-the recess 56. p A,

It will also bepb'servedthat, as the cam 41 first 'engages'tl' e innerend 39 of the dog 27,laterallyextending arms i8, 48, carried by :theframe 17 are simultaneously engaged with theimpact piece 42 ofthecushioning device carried on the cam member 12, and compress thespring 45. The releasing action of the dog is thus retarded slightly,which requires a small additional'eifort of the operator which isdesirable to indicate when this point is "reached. Furthermore, thespring 45 is compressed so as to impart an additional impulse totheframe 17 after it is released and moves into its new position.

The force of impact of the dog 27 as it is stopped in each successiverecess is cushioned by the spring 36 on the link 31. Pivot pins 28, 28,of dog 27, and pivot pins 33, 33, of link 31 are movably mounted inslots 29 and 34 respectively, so as to afford the necessary movement ofthe spring and dog in cushioning this shock. I

Altho I have shown and described one form in which my invention mayfbeembodied, it will be understood that many other means may be employedfor accomplishing the same results without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention. I do not therefore wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the specific construction illustrated hereinexcepting as specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a controller provided with a contactor drum and an operatingmember, means including a tension member interposed between said drumand said operating member and affording limited relative movementtherebetween, latch mechanism associated with the drum and adapted tosuccessively engage a series of stops corresponding to severalcontacting positions of said drum, means actuated by said operatingmember for releasing said latch mechanism, and means associated withsaid latch mechanism for cushioning the impact thereof as the successivestops are engaged.

2. In a controller provided with a contactor drum and an operatingmember, means including a tension member interposed between said drumand said operating member and affording limited relative movementbetween said drum and operating member, latch mechanism associated withthe drum and adapted to successively en-' gage a series of stopscorresponding to several contacting positions of said drum, meansactuated by said operating member for releasing said latch mechanism,and auxiliary tension means carried by one of said relatively movablemembers and coacting with said releasing mechanism to impart additionalmomentum to the drum'at the moment of releasing the latter.

'3. In a device of the class described, a frame and a cam member bothrotatably mounted, spring means connecting said frame and cam member, arocking dog mounted on said frame adapted to success sively engage aseries of stops, tension means'for saiddog, means positively limitingthe relative movement of said frame and cam member when rotatedrelatively in one direction, and means on said cam member fordisengaging said dog when the frame and cam member are rotatedrelatively in the opposite direction.

4. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted frame,tension means adapted to rotate said frame, a series of stops, and latchmechanism carried by said frame adapted to successively engage saidstops, comprising a rocking dog mounted in said frame, means affordinglimited lateral displacement of said dog in the direction of rotation ofsaid frame, tension means restraining the lateral displacement of saiddog, and means for rocking said dog out of engagement with said stops.

5. In a device of the class described, a rotatable frame, tension meansadapted to rotate said frame, a series of stops, and latch mechanismcarried by said frame adapted to successively engage said stopscomprising a. rocking dog, means afiording limited lateral displacementof said dog in the direction of rotation of said frame, a rocking linkhaving pivotal connection with said dog, means affording limited lateraldisplacement of said link, tension means co-operating with said link ina direction tending to throw one end of the dog outwardly intoengagement with the stops, and means for rocking said dog out ofengagement with said stops.

6. In a device of the class described, a rotatable frame, tension meansadapted to rotate said frame, a series of stops, and latch mechanismcarried by said frame adapted to successively engage said stops,comprising a rocking dog, means affording limited lateral displacementof said dog in the direction of rotation of said frame, a rocking linkhaving pivotal connection with said dog, means affording limited lateraldisplacement of said link, tension means co-operating with said link ina direction tending to throw one end of the dog outwardly intoengagement with the stops and to restrain the lateral displacement ofsaid dog, and

means for roeking'said dog out of engage-v ment with said stops. 7

7. In a device of the class described, a frame and a cam member, botlrrotatably mounted and having limited relative movement therebetween,spring means connecting said frame and cam member, a rocking dog mountedon said frame adapted tosuccessively engage a series of stops,tension'means for frame and a cam member both rotatably' mounted, springmeans connecting sald frame and cam member,ya rockinghdog mounted on sad frame adaptedto 'suec-es ssively engagea series of stops, tensionmeans,

for saiddog, means positively limiting the relative movement .of saidframe and ca m member when rotated relatively in yone direction, meanson said cam member for disengaging said dog When the frame and cammember are rotated relatively in; the opposite,

direction and auxiliary tension, means mounted on one ofsaid relativelymovable members adapted to; be placed under com-f pression by the othermember during a por-i.

tion of the relative movement of the said members, and prior to thedisengagement of. said dog. T

Signed at Chicago, in the county and State of :Illinois, this 23rd dayof.

September, 1921. 4 g

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